CCZ trains 150 consumers in organic farming

THE Consumer Council of Zimbabwe has trained more than 150 people in organic farming methods in three districts in Masvingo Province in a bid to address food security challenges at household level.

Organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, synthetic fertilisers, genetically modified organisms, and growth hormones.

CCZ executive director Ms Rosemary Siyachitema said they received funding from the Consumer Worldwide to train rural consumers in sustainable production and consumption of food. She said the training was meant to assist households to be able to address their food security challenges through the use of organic fertilisers and chemicals in crop and small livestock production.

“We have trained 154 households in Masvingo, Zaka and Chivi districts under a sustainable food production and consumption fund. The fund, involving small amounts, is from Consumer World Wide, to which CCZ is a member,” said Ms Siyachitema.

She said effects of climate change were being caused by the continued use of inorganic fertilisers which have seen global warming increasing.

“Communities are trained on how to make compost from dry crop leaves, maize stalks so that they can apply in their nutritional gardens. They are also getting skills on how to rear small livestock like, chicken and rabbits, using natural means.

“Issues of global warming, associated with droughts, high temperatures, floods and an increase in noncommunicable diseases-related deaths have been linked to the consumption of food grown through the use of artificial methods of farming,” she said.

Ms Siyachitema said the organisation had also trained communities around Harare and the response was positive.

She said, funds permitting, the organisation was going to cover all rural provinces in the country.